Reed for musical instruments



Dec. 3, 1935. H. T. PRESCOTT 2,022,736

REED FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 20, 1953 f zz vzi? flm,,

Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to reeds for musical instruments and more particularly to the provision of a reed adapted for use in connection with the mouthpiece of a saxophone, clarinet, or similar musical instrument.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved reed.

A further object is to provide a reed capable of producing sounds of improved quality.

A further object is to provide a reed that has its marginal edges free.

A further object is to provide a reed having an increased or extended marginal vibrational area.

A further object is to provide a reed which emits sound-waves having a wave form that produces musical sounds of improved quality.

A further object is to provide a reed that avoids the binding of the marginal portions of the reed when a ligature or other fastening means is clamped around the reed to hold it on the mouthpiece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reed having a greater freedom of vibration without sacrificing the sturdy backbone essential to provide the necessary resiliency or resistance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reed which prevents the means clamping the reed to the mouthpiece from interfering with the free vibration of the reed.

A further object is to provide a reed which will in comparison with ordinary reeds emit a sound wave of greater amplitude with a given expenditure of energy or will emit a sound wave of the same amplitude with the expenditure of less energy.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a preferred embodiment of the novel reed;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the reed shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale of the reed shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified embodiment of the reed of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the improved reed shown clamped to a saxophone mouthpiece;

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the novel reed is formed with a rear thick portion l and a front portion 2 tapering into a flexible tip.

The bottom portion 3 of the reed is flat so that when the reed is applied to a mouthpiece 4 it will fit tightly against a correspondingly fiat surface 5 5 formed on the mouthpiece 4.

The upper rear portion I of the reed is arouate in shape so that it can be clamped to the mouthpiece 4 by a fastening means such as the ligature 6 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. 10 'i The reeds now in common use are formed as described above and have their upper rear portions curved from one of their longitudinal edges to their other longitudinal edge with the result that the ligatures or clamping means press the 15 improved novel reed is formed by constructing the reed in such a manner that when it is clamped to the usual mouthpiece by the usual clamping means the marginal edge portions of the reed will 25 be free to vibrate.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 this is accomplished by cutting a substantially crescent-shaped recess or channel ID in the marginal edge portions of the reed. 30

This recess I0 is preferably cut deep enough so that the thickness of the marginal edges H are substantially equal to the thickness of the marginal portions of the reed that prevails at substantially one-quarter of the distance from its 35 tip I to its end 8.

The width of the recess I0 is preferably substantially equal to the thickness of the thickest part of the reed, but may be varied within limits determined by the improved quality of sound ob- 40 tained by extension of the vibrational area of the reed without sacrificing the sturdy backbone of the reed.

The depth of the recess l0 may also be varied within certain limits depending on several factors, for example, the dimensions of the particular reed, the kind of cane used, the length-of the flexible tip, whether the reed is to be of soft, medium or stiff grade, etc. 50

The particular shape or form of the recess may likewise be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, for example, instead of making the marginal recess substantially curve-shaped as illustrated in Fig. 55

3 the recess may be made substantially rectangular like the recess I2 illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the reeds now in use the vibration is confined to the marginal portions of the flexible tip, that is, those portions of the tip outside of the dotted line 9 shown in Fig. 1. Since the reeds now in use have their rear portions curved so that the clamping means bind their longitudinal edges, the vibration of these reeds is confined to the portion of the reed in front of the thicker portion 1, that is the flexible tip portion 2.

I have discovered that reeds of this type can be given greatly improved characteristics by forming a channel or recess H3 or l2 in the marginal portions of the reed. This recess or channel II] or E2 changes the wave-form of the sound-wave emitted by the reed and thereby improves the quality of the tones emitted.

These recesses ID or 52 prevent the clamping means from damping the vibrations set up by the edge portions of the flexible tip and as a result fuller improved quality tones are emitted by the reed. In addition with a given amount of energy expended in setting the reed vibrating at a given frequency, the amplitude of the emitted sound-wave will be greater in the case of the improved reed than in the case of reeds now in common use. This reduces fatigue in playing the musical instruments employing my improved .reed to a minimum, permits the player to play better in tune, obtain a better tone, and obtain the necessary volume with less effort.

Fig. 5 shows the improved reed applied to the usual saxophone mouthpiece by means of the usual ligature.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, and clearly illustrates how the recesses l8 or 12 of the present invention avoid binding of the marginal portions or edges of the reeds which would otherwise occur when the ligature is clamped about the reed to hold it in place on the mouthpiece 4. It is clear from these figures that the channels or recesses iii or 12 release the marginal side portions of the reed so that there can be no interference with the free vibration of the marginal edges of the reed, and at the same time these channels or recesses It or l2 leave a sturdy backbone extending substantially from the end 8 to the tip l of the reed to insure good resistance or resiliency while attaining this free vibration.

The embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful form of the invention which is capable of many other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, comprising a thick portion for supporting the means for clamping the reed to a mouthpiece therefor, a flexible tip portion tapering from said thick portion, and a thin portion at each side of the thick portion co-extending therewith back from said tip portion, the

upper surfaces of said thin portions being spaced a substantial distance from the reed clamping means.

2. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, comprising a thick portion 5 for supporting a ligature for clamping the reed to a mouthpiece, a flexible tip portion, a tapering portion between said tip portion and said thick portion, and recessed marginal portions at each side of said tapering portion and said thick portion and spaced from said ligature, said marginal portions and said flexibie tip portion constituting the vibratile area of the reed.

3. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, comprising a thick portion 15 cooperable with a ligature for clamping the reed to a mouthpiece, a flexible tip portion extending from said thick portion, and longitudinal recessed portions at each side of said thick portion and spaced from said ligature when the reed is clamped to said mouthpiece to provide a free vibratile portion at each side of said thick portion.

4. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, comprising a relatively rigid thick portion tapering into a flexible tip portion, and recessed portions at each side of said thick portion forming thin vibratile margins substantially co-extensive with said thick portion for increasing the vibrational area of the reed. 3O

5. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, having a curve-shaped recessed portion in each or its longitudinal parallel side margins, said recessed portion having its upper surface spaced a substantial distance from the ligature for clamping the reed to a mouthpiece.

6. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument comprising a thick portion adapted to support a ligature, a rectangular- 40" shaped recessed portion constituting each of the longitudinal side margins of said thick portion and spaced from said ligature for freeing the marginal portions of the reed from said ligature.

7. In a mouthpiece for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument having a reed clamping ligature, the combination of a reed having a tip portion and recessed portions spaced a substantial distance from said ligature to form elongated vibratile members extending rear- 3 wardly from said reed tip portion at opposite sides of the reed whereby the longitudinal margins of the reed are released from the clamping effect of the ligature.

8. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar musical instrument, comprising a portion for cooperation with the ligature, a flexible tip portion and a pair of ligature-released portions at each side of said first-mentioned portion.

9. A reed for a saxophone, clarinet or similar 6 for freeing said margins from said ligature.

HENRY T. PRESCOTT. 

